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Bachelor of Economics (BEc)

This renowned professional qualification equips you with sharp analytical and statistical skills, for any business or finance role.

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Why choose this bachelor degree?

Widely recognised professional qualification that provides a solid grounding in the core areas of economics and econometrics

Acquire specialist knowledge in the field of Econometrics, Economics or Financial Economics

Gain analytical and statistical skills that have diverse applications in the business and finance sectors

Develop a broad range of transferable skills that are relevant across various industries

Additional major: Flexibility to study a second economics major or an approved Commerce major, such as Finance, Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing or Real Estate Studies.

Professional recognition: Meet the education requirement of various professional bodies including Australian Human Resources Institute (Human Resource Management), and Australian Securities and Investment Commission (RG-146) (Finance), depending on your course selection.

This course provides an introduction to accounting research. The course is designed to introduce students to the methodologies and their application in management accounting, financial accounting, and auditing research. While ACCT2507 is not a pre-requisite for the undergraduate Accounting Honours program, it is highly recommended.

Course outline

This course examines management accounting practices directed towards the effective use of organisational resources and focuses on three interrelated themes:

First, the design and operation of management accounting systems for planning and control

Second, the role of management accounting practices in supporting effective resource management and process improvement

Third, the manner in which these practices affect and are affected by human processes within organisations

We aim to encourage critical thinking about such issues, and to improve students’ abilities to address these with confidence and creativity in a professional and work-based context. The course draws upon business practice, contemporary and international research, case studies, and the applied research experiences of course participants.

Course outline

Core courses

This course will engage you with some of the founding ideas of economics and their relevance to the social usefulness of modern economic science. The economic concepts considered in the course may include, for example, comparative advantage, institutions, money, and economic growth and development. For each of these concepts and topics, you will learn about how economists approached the problem throughout history, and how their approaches relate to other social science and business disciplines. You will actively reflect and debate about the discipline's objectives. After this course, students will be able put economics into perspective: they will learn how modern-day problems are addressed in different subfields of modern economics, how these endeavours relate to the historical development of economics, and where the frontiers of economics as a discipline presently lie.

First Year business elective

The compulsory core accounting unit will have a preparer perspective. It will provide an introduction to basic concepts in accounting and their application for decision making by a wide range of potential users (eg, shareholders, investment analysts, lenders, managers etc).

This unit should benefit students who wish to specialise in accounting, and will also be of value to students whose primary interest lies elsewhere in the field of business. On completion, students should have a clear understanding of the accounting process and the language of accounting to enable communication with an accounting professional, understand the relevance of accounting information for informed decision making by a wide range of potential users, and have the ability to analyse and interpret accounting information.

Topics covered will include the accounting equation, general purpose financial reports, cash and accrual accounting, adjustments, internal control, financial statement analysis, and interpreting and preparing information for managers to use in planning, decision making and control.

Course outline

This is a first level corporate finance course that looks at the essential aspects of financial decision-making. The course begins with the different ways in which companies can be structured and the differing types of ownership that exist. Thereafter, the principles and applications of financial mathematics are introduced and used to value securities and investment decisions.

Portfolio theory is used to provide a foundation for determining the relationship between expected risk and returns in financial and real asset investments. Dividend payouts and the choices between debt and equity financing, including methods of determining the cost of capital, are also covered.

Furthermore, this course includes analysis of the influence of the capital market environment, the implications of financial risk, taxation and the conflict of interest between managers and investors on the value and operation of businesses.

The course develops distinct conceptual frameworks and specialised tools for solving real-world financial problems at both the personal and corporate level. Illustrations from real-life corporate practices are used to highlight the importance and relevance of financial management to the realisation of personal and corporate financial objectives.

Course outline

This is a foundational (Level 1) Information Systems (IS) course that introduces students to the use of IS in business and society. As an overarching theme, INFS1602 examines the issues and management of IS in relation to human behaviour and its consequences. Through this course, students will learn to appreciate existing and emerging technologies affecting businesses, business relationships and their products and services. In taking this course, students will be provided with tasks and assignments that will aid in refining their professional business skills and the ability to evaluate the value of technology to businesses. This includes communication and group work skills, time management and research skills.

The topics that are covered in INFS1602 include understanding the role of Information Systems and IS Professionals in Global Business, the relationship between Information Systems, Organisations, and Strategy, the dominant Business Models enabled by the Internet and the emergence of Web 2.0 technology. The course will also explore contemporary technology-enabled phenomena that are disruptive to the current business landscape such as Sharing Economy, Blockchain and the Internet of Things. The course also touches on popular enterprise-level information systems such as Enterprise Systems, Supply Chain and Customer Relationship Management Systems and the emergence of business intelligence in supporting organisation decision making. The course also involves discussion of the considerations behind the acquisition and building of IS and the issues common to the management of IS projects. Lastly, the course addresses the need to secure the IS and the potential ethical and social issues faced by businesses in relation to their use of IS.

Course outline

In today’s business world, marketing is viewed as central to creating and delivering value both to the organisation and to the customer. It impacts all aspects of a business organisation, shaping and directing corporate through to marketing strategy. Many companies acknowledge that their growth and survival depends on putting the customer at the centre of their planning. Thus, an understanding of marketing is essential for any business student.

This course introduces the student to the major concepts and theories, reflecting the breadth and diversity of marketing. It provides insights into where marketing fits within an organisation, its contributions to business in general, describes frameworks supporting marketing activities, and helps with challenges in the ever changing market place. It discusses the application of this understanding to consumer goods, as well as service, business-to-business, industrial and non-profit organizations, and to the growing area of e-commerce.

Topics include: marketing processes and planning, the use of market research, an understanding of consumers and customers, decision-making and the marketing mix, market segmentation, positioning and product differentiation, the changing global environment.

Course outline

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental principles, practices, issues and debates associated with the management of public, business and third sector organisations. The frameworks, concepts and theories covered in the course are introduced to explain how managers deal with the diversity of issues faced in the effective management of contemporary organisations.

The underpinning themes of the course centre on how managers can deal with the multiple demands of complex and turbulent environments, promote and sustain competitive advantage, manage changing social, political and technological factors inside and outside the organisation, ensure ethical and social responsibility, develop global organisations and manage diversity in the workforce. How management goes about its principal tasks of managing strategy, structures, people and systems are the key focus issues of the course. The main roles of modern management - planning, leading, innovating, organising and controlling - are also examined.

Topics include the emergence, evolution and structure of management, conceptions of managerial work; management fads, fashion and knowledge; the task and internal environment; regulating people; the nature of organising; change and innovation; decision-making; influence processes; power and politics; ethical issues and professionalism in management; performance management: control and planning; and current trends.

Course outline

This subject deals with the Australian legal system; the Constitution and Commonwealth/State relations; Parliament and statute law; the courts and case law; the executive and administrative law; the legal process and alternative dispute resolution. Areas of substantive law relevant to commerce are examined including property law (with particular reference to intellectual property), tort law (with particular reference to negligence), contract law, competition law and consumer protection law.

Growth is possibly the most important concern of a firm after survival and the ability to manage growth has become a priority in the corporate agenda for sustaining competitive advantage. Strategies for Growth will provide students with an understanding of how to think strategically for growth.
The course is structured around different growth strategies available to managers, including internal research and development, corporate venturing programs and corporate venture capital, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and globalization.

Course outline

This course examines the treatment of employee remuneration in the Australian taxation system. We start by examining the employer/employee relationship, contrasting it with the principal/independent contractor relationship. This distinction is central to understanding our tax laws. Tax collection obligations imposed on employers, including under PAYG and the pay-roll tax system, are considered in detail. Employers' obligations and employees' rights under the superannuation guarantee system are examined, as are tax concessions for contributions and the taxation of payments made on termination of employment (eg, arising from redundancy, unfair dismissal or death). The course examines the treatment of personal services income when it is derived through an interposed entity, and the tax consequences of salary sacrifice arrangements and salary packaging. Finally, we look at the Tax Office's response to arrangements aimed at avoiding tax on payments for services performed.

Alternative entry pathwaysIf you did not meet the entry cut-off of this degree, you might want to consider studying a different undergraduate degree (either at UNSW or another university), achieve good marks for your first year of study, and then apply for transfer into this degree.

If you did not have the required academic qualification for admission, visit the
UNSW Future Students website to find out what other options are available to you.

Transferring students

Transferring within UNSW

Current UNSW students can apply to transfer from one UNSW degree to another (e.g. from Bachelor of Arts to Bachelor of Commerce) as long as the entry requirements of the new program are met.

Assessment is usually based on your high school qualification (ATAR or equivalent) and/or results from your UNSW studies. In most cases, you need to have completed a minimum of 6 courses (36 UOC) at UNSW.

Applying through
UAC (if you’re a domestic student) or directly with UNSW via
Apply Online (if you’re an international student)

If you gain entry into the new program, you will then be assessed for transfer credits for courses already completed. You can see the transfer credits on
myUNSW.

Transferring from outside UNSW

Students studying at another institution can apply to transfer to a UNSW business degree as long as the entry requirements of the program are met.

Assessment is usually based on your high school qualification (ATAR or equivalent) and/or results from university studies. In most cases, you need to have completed a minimum of 6 courses (36 UOC) at the other university.

You can apply for transfer to a UNSW degree by:

Applying through
UAC (if you’re a domestic student) or directly with UNSW via
Apply Online (if you’re an international student)

If you gain entry into the program at UNSW, you will need to apply for transfer credits for courses already completed. Find out more about
credit transfer at UNSW.

If you’re a domestic student and have completed one semester of study, and your high school results (e.g. ATAR, IB score) met the entry requirements, you may be eligible to apply for transfer via
UAC based on your high school results only.

If you’re an international student and have completed one semester of study, and your high school results (e.g. ATAR, IB score) met the entry requirements, you may be eligible to apply for transfer directly with UNSW via
Apply Online.

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Make the most of every day on campus, with UNSW Australia Business School’s dynamic learning spaces, diverse social events and extensive student support.

Have fun and build your network

As an undergraduate, you have plenty of opportunities to meet new people and make friends. Join a student club, such as Arc (the UNSW student society), AIESEC, the Marketing Club, and many other interest groups. With over 180 social, cultural, sports and professional clubs there’s bound to be at least one that’s perfect for you!
Find out more

All the support you need to achieve

We’ll help you settle in to university life with orientation and mentoring programs. There are study skills workshops, as well as career services and academic advice.
Find out more

Stay active on campus

Exercise boosts your mental wellbeing and can help you deal with exam or assignment pressures. It’s easy to stay fit with state of the art sporting facilities on campus, including a 50m indoor pool, fitness centre, squash courts and a range of competitive sports teams.

Everything you need in one place

The UNSW Kensington campus is like a village hub, with cafes, bars, banks, a post office, medical and dental centres, and retail outlets. It’s a short bus trip to Sydney’s CBD, many beautiful beaches, the SCG and Centennial Park, and movie theatres at Fox Studios.

Make the most of every opportunity

Your undergraduate degree is a once in a lifetime experience, and the friends you make at the Business School could be friends for life. So get involved – as well as student clubs and social activities there are internships, volunteer projects, competitions and international exchanges on offer. It’s a great way to develop and practise your new business skills.